What had become of Mother McCleary and her assistants we could not tell. She probably thought it wise to keep out of the way, lest any of her late guests might suspect her of betraying them, as she probably had done. We had not got more than half-way towards the boats, when our ears were saluted by a chorus of yells and shrieks, and we could distinguish through the gloom on either side of us a mass of human beings, apparently intending to attempt the rescue of our prisoners. "I warn you, good people, that if you come nearer, I'll give my men orders to fire on you," shouted my lieutenant. A volley of wild yells burst from the mob, sufficient to unnerve many who had not before heard such cries. Directly afterwards a brickbat flew past my head, aimed, no doubt, at the more prominent figure of the lieutenant. Fortunately, it missed us both. "Remember, if any of you are killed, you'll have brought the punishment on yourselves," again shouted the lieutenant. Though the people yelled as before, the warning had its effect, and we could see the dark moving mass retreating to a more respectful distance. They, apparently, only wanted a leader to make an onslaught. That leader, however, was not to be found. Had Hoolan been at liberty, I have no doubt but that we should have fared but ill. As it was, missiles from a distance came flying by us, though the prisoners suffered more than we did. Mr Saunders was naturally anxious to avoid bloodshed. At length the boats were reached. Again Hoolan made a desperate effort to get free, but he was hauled on board, and thrust down to the bottom of the pinnace, the rest of the men being disposed of, some in her, and others in the jolly-boat, of which Nettleship took charge. As we shoved off the people collected on the quay, saluting us with renewed yells and execrations, and brickbats, stones, mud, and filth were hurled at us. We speedily, however, got beyond their reach, no one receiving any serious damage. "We've made a fine haul," observed Mr Saunders as we pulled down the river. "We shall soon turn these fellows into good seamen, as obedient and quiet as lambs." "I'm thinking, sir, that you'll not find Dan Hoolan as quiet as a lamb," I observed; and I told him of the encounter my uncle and I had had with the outlaw and his followers. "That'll make no difference," answered Mr Saunders. "When he finds that he can't escape, if he's got any sense in his brains he'll bend to circumstances." I still, however, doubted whether my lieutenant's opinion would prove right.